 box that plugs into any wall outlet and is almost indistinguishable from an oversize power supply.)
MINI SERVER: Marvell Technology's SheevaPlug is a two-inch by four-inch (five- by 10-centimeter) box that plugs into any wall outlet and is almost indistinguishable from an oversize power supply.
Image: © MARVELL TECHNOLOGY
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Tiny computers are everywhere—our cell phones, handheld gaming devices and set-top boxes, to name a few—so it should be no surprise that Marvell Technology in Santa Clara, Calif., one of the companies that makes the chips that go into such devices, managed to cram an entire home server into the SheevaPlug, a two-inch by four-inch (five- by 10-centimeter) box that plugs into any wall outlet and is almost indistinguishable from an oversize power supply.
Sheevaplug is designed to deliver storage capacity and processing power for technophiles looking to string together every network-capable device in their house so they can share movies, music, photos and other files, hook up surveillance cameras or create a mini data center that fits in the palms of their hands. Although much of this can be accomplished today using a standard computer server or even a PC costing anywhere from $500 to several thousand dollars, Sheevaplug's diminutive size, low price ($100) and minimal power consumption (less than five watts) make it an intriguing option.
Knowing that its current audience consists of tech-savvy tinkerers interested in experimenting with new computing platforms, Marvell designed the Sheevaplug to run on the Linux operating system, whose source code is freely available for anyone to use. Marvell also documented the device's hardware on its Web site so the curious could see how it works. "What we want is for developers to get this kit and come up with nifty applications for it," says Raja Mukhopadhyay, Marvell's product marketing manager.
ScientificAmerican.com found some adventurous alpha geeks at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (M.I.T.) Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), Carnegie Mellon University, Intel and elsewhere and asked them what kind of uses they could come up with for the SheevaPlug. We came away with eight different ideas:
1. Home automation:
"I would hook it up to a Web camera and track myself in the house," says Nikolaus Correll, an M.I.T. CSAIL postdoctoral associate. "The system could react to my presence by simple motion detection and then turn heating and lighting on and off. It could also detect my activities such as studying, dining and watching TV, and match them to a preset set of [automated] actions. Eventually it could even create a statistical profile of my activities that helps me optimize energy consumption."
2. Desktop computer replacement:
Sheevaplug features a 1.2 gigahertz processor made by Cambridge, England–based ARM, Ltd., 512 megabytes of RAM and 512 megabytes of flash storage—all comparable with what is found on low-end PCs. "Small-scale computing is catching up with the amount of [computer processing power] people need to do meaningful interactive tasks: Web browsing, e-mail, listening to music, and even—if not now, soon—watching movies or TV," says Dave Andersen, an assistant professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University and a former CSAIL PhD student. Andersen, whose research demands that he use small clusters of low-power processors to tackle larger computing tasks, sees a lot of potential in using SheevaPlug's processor, memory and storage capacity to make a low-cost computer server.
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23 Comments
Add CommentMy former boss uses his programming expertise to automate his heating in his house. It uses motion detection and reports to a web server which he uses to monitor through a web application written in C#.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisOne thing folks need to realize is that this isn't a regular CPU like in your PC. Those CPU's use CISC architecture. Complex Instruction Set Computing. These ARM processors are RISC processors. Reduced Instruction Set Computing. ARM stands for Advanced RISC Machine. The difference between CISC and RISC, that when a instructions are executed. Think of a long staircase and there is a line of people at the top, each representing an instruction. In CISC, the first person may need three steps to complete, but the second person five. So down we go and before the second person goes we need to wait five steps, so the he doesn't catch the first before she is done, causing instruction crash. In this model we have empty steps in between instructions. RISC optimizes the instructions so that as they move along there is no or few empty steps in between. So a properly programed RISC machine running at 1.2 GHz compared to a CISC of the same speed and cache, will theoretically out perform it.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisObviously programming is a bit trickier, but is more optimized. Years ago I had hoped RISC computing would end up dominating PC's, but after the death of the DEC Alpha and the huge lock Intel and Motorola had on PC and MAC's, I lost hope. WHo would of thought that PDA's and cell phones would bring it back full force.
How about some low cost powerful Grid / Brick Computing? 10s of Thousands of these could create a large parallel computing platform during the off hours.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI like all the ideas listed here, and the two commented as, my only concern would be heating. Sure it could be used in mass quantities, but after X amount of time would it not heat up as any computer, or even cellphone, does after elongated use? I'm sure there is an easy remedy for that, but its still something that owuld need looking into.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thislumenotti, I have looking at this for a week or so, and I looked at it's specs on Marvell. It looks like if you take it apart further:) then you have two 3.3 VDC inputs. The other thing, is that even though it's GBEnet what types of latencies would there be? Should be fun to play with.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThis seems to me to be something that you would configure/program, plug into a socket, and then forget about. It's hardly surprising that home automation would figure as the #1 potential application as the device is inexpensive, unobtrusive and presumably robust.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWjat i think would make it far more appealing is if it came complete with some built-in protocols to support these applications, such as HomePlug or X10.
Good but not suprising answers.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisBut why are they called hackers? I'd figure a hacker would say: "Sneak into a building, plug it into a socket and their network, use it to monitor their network traffice/whatever"
That brick would be ideal for espionage.
@gmperkins
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisGeeks generally don't use the term "hacker" to mean "a skilled computer user with criminal intent", as understood by much of the non-geek population/media.
Please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hacker_(computing)
I have performance numbers here:
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thishttp://computingplugs.com/index.php/SheevaPlug_Performance
The plug draws about 5W by itself and more if you plug in an external USB harddrive. I have it running non stop for about 3 weeks now, no problems so far.
I can see a very important use for this device serving as a local controller for interfacing to the "Smart Grid" to minimize power consumption at a home by issuing sub commands to other home power consuming devices such as "HVAC equipment, electric water heaters, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles, swimming pool filter pumps, and other high power electric loads. This device would serve as a timer/control to restrict or defer local loads depending on critical needs and other factors with regard to the electric utility's rate structures and current demand load factors.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThis for example could mean that a hot water heater would defer turning on until the grid demand dropped on a hot summer afternoon. HVAC could be reset to a slightly higher temperature in that same usage peak to reduce the cost of air conditioning without allowing the serviced area to exceed a predetermined maximum tolerable level. (> desired)
From a non-geek: I have a MagicJack. Can I plug the MagicJack into the SheevaPlug so I can still make/get phone calls. Seems this would be better than plugging it into my laptop and having to leave the laptop connected to the Internet all the time?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe MagicJack telephone gadget needs a companion device to supply Internet connectivity and a lightweight host running either Windows or MacOS. The SheevaPlug could be this companion device - a great pair.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thiswhat ,....
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisclearly Your US geeks are no were near the same geekyness as the UK Hackers geeks, infact <boffins> if you please, and the potential thats available today off the shelf.
IF SOMEONE would just take the blocks and do the Obvious thing, ITS SO OBVIOUS infact it really irritats me ICANT BUY IT TODAY
theres not going to be enough charactors allowed here so ill try and make it shorter.
take the SheevaPlug concept, put a Marvell� 88F6281 SoC
http://www.marvell.com/files/products/embedded_processors/kirkwood/88F6281-004_ver1.pdf for the low end generic mass product or include a Current Solarflare integrated 10GBASE-T on there for the high end version.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/08/24/solarflare_loms/
as your basic model you should also include a SIMD ARM Cortex on there, update the Cortex part to include a REAL Encoding/Decoding IP core for true realtime High@Level 3.1 Level4.1 AVC ,.
to at LEAST the same capability as this
PUT a mini HDMI 1.3 or 1.4 core of your choice on there.
put an 11N wirless or dual radio with intigrated and external MIMO on there and Wimax as the top end for now.
a genric wirelss remote control chip trancever capable of 50 m range and MANY selectable channels that another powerplug can use to interact and pass/receive control messages int=dipendant of the faster wirelss Mesh, Yeah Mesh as standard, didnt i say that, and take it as granted for a generic base platform today ;), Doh! US geek people just forget the most basic things today....
go ask Carl Sassenrath, (NOW Theres a Real High class US SUPER Geek of the Old school geekyness you all should talk with and learn from) CTO REBOL Technologies
to make you a 'rebol view' (yes 'View' and Not 'core' as your going to be running this headless but not GUI less) framework R3 to run on tis geeky low-powerplug, and a start writign a mass of rebol scripts for all manor of networked apps to plug into its generic API you create
http://www.rebol.com/view-platforms.html
http://musiclessonz.com/rebol.html#section-5.3
--------cut and paste inside a rebol view shell to see it work
view center-face layout [
h1 "Paint:"
s: area black 650x350 feel [engage: func [f a e] [
if a = 'over [append s/effect/draw e/offset show s]
if a = 'up [append s/effect/draw 'line]]] effect [draw [line]
]
b: btn "Save Image" [save/png %a.png to-image s alert "Saved 'a.png'"]
btn "Clear" [s/effect/draw: copy [line] show s]
]
----- cut
and plug all this into your Wireless and wired LAN, your HDTV and your geeky community f..
what ,....
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisclearly Your US geeks are no were near the same geekyness as the UK Hackers geeks, infact <boffins> if you please, and the potential thats available today off the shelf.
IF SOMEONE would just take the blocks and do the Obvious thing, ITS SO OBVIOUS infact it really irritats me ICANT BUY IT TODAY
theres not going to be enough charactors allowed here so ill try and make it shorter.
take the SheevaPlug concept, put a Marvell® 88F6281 SoC
http://www.marvell.com/files/products/embedded_processors/kirkwood/88F6281-004_ver1.pdf for the low end generic mass product or include a Current Solarflare integrated 10GBASE-T on there for the high end version.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/08/24/solarflare_loms/
as your basic model you should also include a SIMD ARM Cortex on there, update the Cortex part to include a REAL Encoding/Decoding IP core for true realtime High@Level 3.1 Level4.1 AVC ,.
to at LEAST the same capability as this
PUT a mini HDMI 1.3 or 1.4 core of your choice on there.
put an 11N wirless or dual radio with intigrated and external MIMO on there and Wimax as the top end for now.
a genric wirelss remote control chip trancever capable of 50 m range and MANY selectable channels that another powerplug can use to interact and pass/receive control messages int=dipendant of the faster wirelss Mesh, Yeah Mesh as standard, didnt i say that, and take it as granted for a generic base platform today ;), Doh! US geek people just forget the most basic things today....
go ask Carl Sassenrath, (NOW Theres a Real High class US SUPER Geek of the Old school geekyness you all should talk with and learn from) CTO REBOL Technologies
to make you a 'rebol view' (yes 'View' and Not 'core' as your going to be running this headless but not GUI less) framework R3 to run on tis geeky low-powerplug, and a start writign a mass of rebol scripts for all manor of networked apps to plug into its generic API you create
http://www.rebol.com/view-platforms.html
http://musiclessonz.com/rebol.html#section-5.3
--------cut and paste inside a rebol view shell to see it work
view center-face layout [
h1 "Paint:"
s: area black 650x350 feel [engage: func [f a e] [
if a = 'over [append s/effect/draw e/offset show s]
if a = 'up [append s/effect/draw 'line]]] effect [draw [line]
]
b: btn "Save Image" [save/png %a.png to-image s alert "Saved 'a.png'"]
btn "Clear" [s/effect/draw: copy [line] show s]
]
----- cut
and plug all this into your Wireless and wired LAN, your HDTV and your geeky community f.
sorry for the double post and the missing url
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisyour basic model you should also include a SIMD ARM Cortex on there, update the Cortex part to include a REAL Encoding/Decoding IP core for true realtime High@Level 3.1 Level4.1 AVC ,.
to at LEAST the same capability as this
http://www.imgtec.com/news/Release/index.asp?NewsID=440
"16 February 2009
Imagination delivers HD H.264 High Profile capability in latest video encoder IP cores
POWERVR VXE320 and VXE360 deliver multi-standard mobile SD & HD encode
Mobile World Congress, Barcelona, 16 February 2009: Imagination Technologies, the multimedia chip technologies company, announces two new IP cores in the POWERVR VXE video encoder family.
POWERVR VXE320 and VXE360, part of the third generation of Imagination’s video IP family, deliver multi-standard encode, including H.264 High Profile (HP), at SD and HD resolutions respectively.
POWERVR VXE encodes video sequences and still images to a wide range of compression standards including H.264 High, Main and Baseline Profiles, MPEG-4 and JPEG. These cores offload the entire video/still encode processing to hardware, minimising host CPU processing load, enabling lowest power solutions without compromising performance. The core is fully supported by an accompanying software stack, which includes an OpenMAX IL compliant API, under Linux.
"
"The cores are scalable, allowing Full HD video to be encoded, as well as offering the ability to record at extremely high frame rates, (e.g. >1200 fps at QVGA), for detailed slow motion capture – one of the “hot new features” seen at the recent CES consumer electronics show in Las Vegas."
and OC Carl Sassenrath, a Real High class US SUPER Geek of the Old school geekyness is one of your lead programers of AmigaOS, retro realtime network language Geek for a new generation..
I work in a C/C++ development shop, and we plan to use the SheevaPlug to run PC-Lint, a source code quality analysis tool. We will generate scripts to iterate over our source code repository. From this, we will be able to tell, at a macro level, if our code is affected by changes in the development process. We can run PC-Lint (a Windows application) using the Wine project on Linux.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSince its DC inside, another use can be monitoring vital health functions and tracking information to your doctor's office or an emergency response site. When wireless becomes available and the unit uses available health monitoring tools (for people that have cronic diseases, for example), this tool can record and send the information without the user's (wearer's input) so it truely becomes an active monitoring device. One obvious use is for people using insulin infusion pumps - this tool can also record and monitor dosage, as well as record and monitor insulin levels in the blood - something that can be time-critical for the patient.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSince its DC inside, another use can be monitoring vital health functions and tracking information to your doctors office or an emergency response site. When wireless becomes available and the unit uses available health monitoring tools (for people that have cronic diseases, for example), this tool can record and send the information without the users (wearers input) so it truely becomes an active monitoring device. One obvious use is for people using insulin infusion pumps - this tool can also record and monitor dosage, as well as record and monitor insulin levels in the blood - something that can be time-critical for the patient.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSince its DC inside, another use can be monitoring vital health functions and tracking information to your doctors office or an emergency response site. When wireless becomes available and the unit uses available health monitoring tools (for people that have cronic diseases, for example), this tool can record and send the information without the users (wearers input) so it truely becomes an active monitoring device. One obvious use is for people using insulin infusion pumps - this tool can also record and monitor dosage, as well as record and monitor insulin levels in the blood - something that can be time-critical for the patient.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thissorry for the multiple posts - I think this web site's submit button may need maintenance. I've seen this behavior elsewhere and it appears not to work when in fact (as observed), it does.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisYou've gotten the CISC/RISC concept somewhat tangled up. RISC processors have simple instruction architectures that don't do a lot of work per instruction cycle. CISC processors have complicated instructions that can potentially do a lot of work per instruction cycle. At a given clock speed, CISC processors are "faster" because their complex instructions do more work per tick of the clock than the simple instructions of a RISC processor. However, RISC chips are easier to optimize in design, so they can be more easily made to run at faster clock speeds, and they use fewer transistors, so one can put more cores on a single piece of silicon. Motorola once made very good RISC processors, the 8800 series, that were used in Data General Aviion workstations, Sun made the SPARC chipset, and MIPS had a series used in Silicon Graphics, some DEC, and other computers. DEC's Alpha wasn't really a RISC chip.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe problem is that while RISC designs were easier to optimize so that the clock speed could be pushed, the CISC designers eventually caught up. Lithographic masks advanced to allow smaller etching and produce increased chip densities, negating the real-estate advantage for RISC designs. Things like instruction prefetch and pipelining allowed CISC chips to get even more work done per clock cycle when compared to RISC. Furthermore, it's much harder to write a compiler that really efficiently uses a RISC chip than it is to write decent CISC code, so much of the advantage of the RISC design evaporated in production environments.
this is tejas
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisOn line education (at every level) in virtual multimedia forms could be stored at an inexpensive cost. Moving our educational system forward is a key to our long term progress. Finding challenging, innovative, self advancing, fun, and interesting ways to teach should be focused on and spread using this additional form of data storage.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this